"RESTORE AND RENEW OUR FUTURE"
II Chronicles 6-7
Introduction: The stages and phases of my life can be marked by my relationship to sanctuaries. My earliest memory involves hearing the chimes as a three-year-old in the balcony of the sanctuary of the Grand Avenue Methodist Church in Hot Springs. The Second Baptist Church sanctuary would be my spiritual home until I married in 1975. The sanctuary of our first pastorate was a wood frame structure deep in the river bottoms of the Ouachita River. During seminary our sanctuary was a block structure in the west Texas community of Elbert, Texas. After seminary came the sanctuary in DeQueen, Arkansas and later the First Baptist Church in Lewisville, with the only divided chancel I know of a Baptist church in Arkansas. In Fort Smith we built a sanctuary, contemporary in design. Now here this place is our sanctuary.
I am grateful that my life can be marked by sanctuaries. It is a testimony that my life finds its roots in relationship to God and to God’s people. Many of you share similar journeys. Whether several or only this place, your life’s pilgrimage is remembered by its sanctuaries. Because of the significance of a sanctuary in our lives we have chosen to restore this place of worship to honor God and maintain our heritage as the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro.
We have come today to celebrate the completion of this beautiful restoration. We have come also to dedicate both this place and our hearts as instruments of grace in the hands of God.
Because this is a day of celebration and dedication, it says to us that there is something more to the day than just the physical. That this day is unique because this structure is being committed for a unique purpose! It’s primary purpose is not a historical landmark of the last 82 years but a point of reference for the future of this ministry! God’s word does not leave us without a model for such a day as this!
The model is found on the occasion of the text from II Chronicles 6-7. It is the day of dedication of a permanent dwelling for the presence of God. For over 400 years the nation of Israel had worshipped the Lord in an elaborate tent constructed by the Hebrews during their journey in the wilderness. David, after almost 375 years of temporary worship, decided that it was time that God had a permanent place. Yet he was informed by the voice of the Lord that he would not build such a place but his son Solomon would.
Some twenty years had passed. Huge stones, beautiful wood, ornate tapestries, platings of gold were placed into this temple. The ark was brought in as well as that ancient tabernacle. All placed in the very heart of the temple in Jerusalem. Finally a day of feasting, celebration and dedication was set aside. What our text portrays and what our hearts feel are in harmony. Though almost 2800 years removed, there are clear parallels between that day and ours.
What are they?
These events were not experienced by only a few, but by thousands upon thousands of people. There were people from the very northern reaches of Israel to the very borders of Egypt. Near and wide, great and small, all the assembly of Israel joined together for one day of celebrating the completing of the vision. They were people who were alert to the significance of the moment. They—every last one of them—were "standing." This was a symbolic way of saying, "We are waiting to hear from God and experience His presence." They also participated in the blessing of God. Solomon "blessed all the assembly." It was for them a blessed experience to share in the high moment of worship and fulfillment.
Those qualities of community- being gathered, standing alert and experiencing blessing are ones we also participate in. Though perhaps there are some who are absent from us for various reasons, yet we all should share together either in body or spirit the significance of this day. We stand here also alert, waiting upon the presence of God to move in among us and fill this place for His honor, glory and power. But more than anything else there ought to be an overwhelming sense of blessing about this day. It ought to be burned into every heart and mind that we are a blessed people for this building and this day.
I look around me and see faces that will grow old and pass away and our names will long be forgotten. The community of faith that is represented by this day and this building will stand long after we’re gone! It is a privilege and an honor to be a part of a work such as this. It is something in which we all share, participate, and celebrate. We all stand together, as a community, enjoying the blessing of God on this day.
What did Solomon do to dedicate the temple? There were many things but his first activity was one of deep prayer (II Chron. 6:12-13). Perhaps the most significant event of that day was Solomon’s pleading before God the needs of the people of Israel. There are four petitions that stand out to me from these verses. These four petitions remind us that when God’s people commit to Him a place of worship there should be a specific purpose for that place .
The first matter that Solomon addresses is that the Temple was to be a place for forgiveness (II Chron. 6:21,25). Solomon was unusually aware that of all the purposes the temple might serve it’s primary one would be that of reconciling people and God. He knew there was a danger that in all the activity of the temple it would lose its purpose. All the sacrifices, whether grain or animal were to call a person back to their relationship to God.
Can you imagine a better purpose for a place of worship? That in this place would be proclaimed the great truth of grace found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That from here persons would be presented with the reality of God’s love, the brokenness of their lives, the death of Christ on the cross for them and the resurrection of Christ securing that salvation. All of that given to freely. Here ,a Christian, who has failed to obey what they know to be true can know that grace is still theirs. God in Christ forgives and that their failure, their sin can be removed forever. This is a forgiving place.
There’s another truth evident here. As you read his prayer Solomon dedicates the temple to the applying of the justice of God (II Chron. 6:22-23).One of the difficulties of the Hebrew society were the inequities of the courts. If a man was wealthy, then he could do as he pleased. If he was poor, then he was one to be trampled on and his rights abused. Solomon appeals to the justice of God to be applied to those who abuse others. His appeal is that they would pay the just price for their crimes and that the righteous would be vindicated and rewarded.
There are inequities woven into the fabric of our society. There are moral wrongs, social evils, material abuses and all kinds of injustices of people against other people. The question is what does this place have to do with those things. The answer is everything. As a pastor, I am convinced that the justice of God is to be applied in our world but also in our own family of faith. As God’s people understand that, then we through ministry and service will see moral, ethical, social, material evils destroyed and what is right built up. This place is to be a place where you are persuaded about your part in doing something to bring about the justice of God in our society wherever it is needed. This place is to be a just place.
Another reality that Solomon addresses in his prayer is to ensure that the place of worship would call to mind the provision of God (II Chron. 6:26-27). The life of Israel depended on the rain to nourish their crops. Without it there would be drought and plagues. When there was the lack of God’s provision for their livelihood, the temple was to call to mind the reality that God alone sustains life. The temple was dedicated to the continuation of His provision for His people. The people were to be taught His ways and that way is one in which God’s provision for life is recognized.
This facility continues to be a testimony to the provision of God. It is a material statement of the faith of God’s people that He and He alone is the provider of our lives. It is a witness in this community that God is the source of all life, both material and spiritual. David cried out in I Chron. 29:12, "Both riches and honor come from Thee!" It is an inheritance given to us as the church of Jesus Christ to teach everyone that God is the giver and sustainer of all life!
Our congregation is one of material wealth. Yet we can never afford to be seduced by the provisions we enjoy and think they came from our hand. So this place, beautiful and comfortable, is to be an object lesson continually that God is the giver and sustainer of life. May we never forget that! This place is a providing place.
The final principle found in Solomon’s prayer recalls the inclusiveness of God (II Chron. 6:32-33). As those doors to that first temple were opened physically, they were in their very purpose opened spiritually. They were doors that were open to the world! To that person not an Israelite, not of their kind, the Temple would be open to them. Solomon would intercede that as they dedicated that place the foreigner would be issued an invitation to enjoy its blessings and privileges!
One of the biggest hurdles we must continue to overcome as a church is a spirit of "elitism". That somehow our history, location, name or reputation elevates us to a status above others. That attitude could cause us to be exclusive rather than inclusive. Therefore, it is laid upon us to say to a person regardless of spiritual condition, income, race, denomination, political persuasion, "You are welcome to meet Jesus here!". We must break down whatever barriers possible to throw open our doors and our arms and say, "Welcome!" .
Notice why this concern: "in order that all the people of the earth may know Thy name." That’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it? We are given a mandate, a commission, to see that all the peoples of the earth know the name of Jesus. This place is committed, dedicated to proclaiming the inclusiveness of God to the communities of our world!
III. When God’s people dedicate a place of worship, there is a response that we anticipate. The people of God participating as a community of faith, dedicating a temple to certain realities of the nature of God, did not go unnoticed by either God in heaven or people on earth. (II Chron. 7:1-6)
There was on God’s part an overpowering reaction (v. 1-2).In an overwhelming, miraculous way God showed His pleasure by sending a fire to consume the sacrifice on the altar and His glory to fill the Temple. Both of them were visible, evident symbols of presence of God in the Temple of God!
Now wouldn’t you be shocked if something comparable were to happen here? I know I would. Yet, in symbolic ways those two elements can’t be missing from any service or activity we may have here. The fire of God must be seen in His power displayed in our worship. The glory of God will be seen as He makes Himself known by His presence felt as we gather. God’s power and presence is the His reaction to the dedication and commitment of the people of God.
There must always be a desire to experience the presence and power of God in all aspects of our worship. There must be a spiritual hunger in our hearts to sense both His power and His presence! This building alone can lose it’s appeal. By itself it will never cause people to draw near to God—but the power and the presence of God will do nothing less! May there be a divine reaction to our worship in this place—His power and His presence!
Just as God responded to the prayer of Solomon there was also a reaction on the part of God’s people. The human reaction involved confessing that God’s goodness and His everlasting love (v. 3), a sacrificial contribution that demonstrated their devotion (v. 4), and a continuing celebration for several days (v. 8-10).
These are to be our human reaction to the power and presence of God. We are to be confessing with our mouth and our life the character of God, contributing sacrificially with our material provisions to see this restoration paid in full as soon as possible, and continuing in the years to come to fulfill the purpose of this worship center. There is both a reaction from God and God’s people when God’s people dedicate and commit to Him a place of worship.
Conclusion: Harry E. Fosdick was pastor of the Riverside Baptist Church in New York City during the 1930’s. Fosdick was the author of the familiar hymn "Rise up O’ men of God. When Fosdick and his church dedicated the Riverside Church in New York in the 1930’s he made an interesting comment. One of the members commented on how wonderful their new building was, Fosdick replied, "My greatest fear is that what is wonderful become something wicked."
That is what happened to the temple Solomon built. Hardly sooner than his tomb was sealed was the sanctity and holiness of the temple violated. So corrupt would the worship become, the place dedicated to worship the Lord would be used as a storeroom for the idols of pagan worship. So wicked would it become that the people in Jeremiah’s day would cry out, "The Temple of the Lord…." as if by magic they would be protected from all harm. What was wonderful became something wicked.
How can a place as wonderful as this become something wicked? When we forget the purpose of this place. That this place is to be a place where God’s forgiveness, justice, provision and inclusiveness are expressed and experienced. When that happens it will be as God told Solomon, "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually."(II Chron.7:16)
May you who are children here now bring your children and grandchildren to this place and say, "The power and the presence of God have never left. This is where God’s heart is to be found. This is a wonderful place."
Sunday, May 23, 1999
Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Jonesboro, Arkansas
btippit@fbcjonesboro.org